TERRA MADRE is a musical key to open a world of tales and dreams related to the motherlands of infinite possible itineraries, and to the cries of pain and hope that rise from them.
Photo by Giovanna Cavallo
Join us for an evening with BEPPE GAMBETTA - a guitarist, vocalist, researcher and composer born in Genova, Italy who developed a style of concert presentation that brings American and European Roots to speak together with one voice. In his unique approach, Gambetta blends energetic grooves with passionate melodies, giving new life to sources from different times, periods and places. In addition, the original music he composes gives contemporary influences to traditional roots music.
Beppe will be playing songs from his new album, Terra Madre, along with other lovely tunes for us all to enjoy!
BEPPE GAMBETTA first came to the United States in 1985 and then returned in 1988 to travel through the US with the first available Sony digital DAT machine. He managed to meet and record a collection of duets with 12 of the most admired guitarists in the American bluegrass/folk genre including Norman Blake, Mike Marshall, Charles Sawtelle, John Jorgenson and David Grier.
In 1989 Beppe Gambetta crossed the “Iron curtain” to perform at the Porta Festival in Czeckoslovakia and sensed the revolutionary wave that in those days expressed itself also thorugh the music. In that occasion he started an important collaboration with American banjo master Tony Trischka.
In the 1990s Gambetta started to tour on a regular basis with American guitar legend Dan Crary (in Europe and then in the US and Australia). Dan Crary was able to introduce him to the organizers of the Walnut Valley Festival in Winfield, KS, a major guitar event and home to important guitar contests. Gambetta’s performances at Winfield opened the door to him becoming a regular part of the American Festival scene.
In 1993 he met and collaborated with Gene Parsons, a former member of the legendary folk-rock band, The Byrds. Parsons performed on Gambetta’s first solo American CD “Good News From Home” (1995) on the then preminent folk and Celtic label “Green Linnet”. In this album, Gambetta started to blend his love for American Roots with elements of European tradition moving away from being known strictly as a hot bluegrass picker to create his own multi-national style.
In the late 1990s he launched a project to research the forgotten music of the Italian String Virtuosi of the turn-of-the-century. He focused on reviving the music and re-building the instruments of legendary Genovese harp-guitarist Pasquale Taraffo (1887-1937). This work led to the recording of two CDs “Serenata” (1997) and “Traversata” (2001).
He has continued his research along the path of musicians and emigrations including to date producing shows of Italian revival in Europe, US and Argentina.
In 2001, Beppe Gambetta and his wife Federica Calvino Prina inaugurated “Beppe Gambetta Acoustic Nights”, a series of annual concerts that bring together different top-notch International musicians each year, planned around a special musical “theme”. Held each spring at the 1000-seat Teatro Ivo Chiesa – Teatro Nazionale in Genova, Italy for three or four consecutive evenings, the performances have established themselves as one of the preeminent events in the European musical scene and are regularly broadcast by the Italian National Radio (RAI Radio 3).
From 2002 to today, Beppe Gambetta focused his work mainly on his solo carreer, touring constantly and naturally and seamlessly joining the shores of the two continents, Europe and America, creating in spite of the interposed ocean a musical fusion where American roots music and Ligurian tradition, emigration songs and folk ballads, steel string guitars and vintage harp guitars not only co-exist but interact, weaving a deep dialog unaware of any rigid classification.
On April 23, 2019 Beppe was awarded with the title of “Genoa Ambassador To The World” by the Genoa Mayor Marco Bucci for the following reason:
“Beppe Gambetta has built countless bridges between Genoa and the Americas, combining the rich culture of his hometown with the beauty of the American roots and adding in his compositions contemporary influences to the traditions he mastered. He has been a true Ambassador of the Genovese culture in all his studies, productions and performances”.
For his 14th CD (Where The Wind Blows, Borealis Records, Canada 2020) Beppe Gambetta revealed himself to be not simply a master guitarist but also a new songwriter of great feeling, wisdom and maturity. “Where The Wind Blows” is a collection of songs and tunes all written, arranged and performed by Beppe with the extraordinary collaboration of American bass player Rusty Holloway and percussionist Joe Bonadio.
The CD title track “Dove Tia O Vento” was a finalist in the “Best Song” Category at the Italian Awards Targhe Tenco 2020.
The 2024 new release Terra Madre (Mother Earth) is a musical key to open a world of tales and dreams related to the motherlands of infinite possible itineraries, and to the cries of pain and hope that rise from them. The record weaves together the experience and wisdoms of a fifty-year career, and the work is further enriched by the participation of internationally-renowned guests from different musical genres. “Fathers” of acoustic music such as American mandolin icon David Grisman, acoustic guitar pioneer Dan Crary, and celebrated bluegrass and Americana singer-songwriter Tim O’Brien lend their talents to the project. Different dimensions are added by the presence of New York avant-garde drummer and percussionist Joe Bonadio, the versatile acoustic jazz harmonica player Howard Levy, and from the world of “Newgrass” Jam Bands, the hugely popular bassist, Travis Book.
The support of fans, bluegrass and folk DJs, and listeners has helped the project to reach the #2 Album, and #3 Artist spots for June 2024, and the #2 album and #2 artist spot for July 2024 with six songs in the top 25 on the Folk Alliance International Chart, Terra Madre has also charted for 12 consecutive weeks on the Roots Music Report Traditional Bluegrass Album Chart in the top 13 including seven weeks in the top 10 peaking twice at #3, 12 consecutive weeks on the RMR Bluegrass Album Chart in the top 55 including 5 week in the top 25 peaking at #18, and in addition 12 consecutive weeks on Richard Gillmann’s Folk Radio Chart reaching #2 Album, #3 Artist for June, and #1 Album, #1 Artist for July.
The featured single “Sit And Pick With You” topped the charts at #1 in June and July on both the Folk Alliance International Chart and Richard Gillmann’s Folk Radio Chart.
www.beppegambetta.com
www.facebook.com/BeppeGambetta
www.youtube.com/BeppeGambettamusic
www.twitter.com/BeppeGambetta
www.instagram.com/BeppeGambetta
If you are interested in dining before the concert, please make a reservation at The Restaurant at 1900 and enjoy some special Italian food and wines to enhance your evening!
Your dining experience is not included concert ticket price.